Drftn280zxt

That is one idea. But first I am going to try a smaller scale idea. I just won a 280zx Turbo model car off of a ebay. I am going to try to modify to car to match my drawing/ calculated specifications (the model is still in the box in plastic, truthfully a collectors item, but I couldn't find one anywhere else and I fealt really bad about buying a diecast collectors model). This side project should give me some ideas on how to actually do some of mods in the future. Sure its 1/25th scale but it still seems like a decent idea. Plus if I need help (which I probably will) the small scale model could be a good reference on how to make parts and pieces for the project. The drawings are only good to a certain degree and then a 3D model is really where all the ideas come together for a more overall idea on how it will look on the street. Plus I really don't have much body work experience yet and no room to practice on a large scale. So for now its dream big, and build small

In these two pages in a thread I started are some drawings I did for what I hope to get my Z to look like someday. Feel free to get inspired. BTW I like what you did with the front end! page 1 drawings page 3 drawings about half way down the page

MSA has springs for your car. But what are looking for? A little stiffer than stock, or very stiff? If you have intentions for auto-x and other types of racing I'd just go for Modern Motorsports coilovers, bit pricier than springs, but more customizable. Something I am considering in the future for my 280zx. Like these other guys said the 2+2 had stiffer springs in the rear. The extra foot of car length acconts for couple hundred more pounds of weight. Thus this must be take into consideration when choosing custom spring rates. 280zx seater= ~2800 lbs 280zx 2+2= ~3000 lbs Assuming the source I used to find the weight of a 2+2 is accurate.

I think you are getting different processes mixed up. Bonding is usually when bondo is used to join pieces together without any other constructive/structural component. Adding fiberglass to put multiple pieces together is grafting. One thing that must be realized is that different materials will expand and contract to different degrees in various temperatures. If you live in a very cold or very dry climate you need to be concerned about this stuff. If your in a more mild steady climate, you should be fine I think. This is just word of mouth from other experienced body "masters" though. BlueovalZ, racerX, and a couple other guys on this forum should be able to fill you in better though on the specifics. I'm seeing fiberglass holding a urethane onto metal. Fiberglass with definitely hold up better than bondo any day that is for sure

That is Blueovalz's Z-car. (He is a member on this forum). Just FYI

I know what your talking about. Here is the thing though, to me the Amuse kit looks a little too busy, and doesn't flow with the lines of car (especially in the rear). Not to mention the Amuse kit makes the front of the S2K look really heavy and really long. I agree with you on the 240zSX front fascia look. I favor the HKS/ APR/ Top Secret III aero kit looks personally (less abstract but still beefs up the car without overdoing it).

Can't wait see pics of what you did Phantaz. Speaking of pics, here is the latest development with the Bi-Xenon projector technology coupled with advanced LED lighting that is directed via a parabolic "cup", and naturally showing the potentcy of a widebody on a ZX. Or in less fancy language, the new bad a$$ headlight design being advertised in mid drift! Tell me what you think

Personally I really like that front fascia. That is really what sparked me to post Err... repost it. The site I found it on was a Japanese site of which I couldn't read anything, (just clicking around aimlessly )

Gotta love that japanese, they'll do almost anything to turn heads

Couldn't you just get some custom ones made by RAYS (aka Mackin Industries). Then you wouldn'y have fitment problems and the right lug setup. Unless you really want five lug, in that case search up on the 5 lug conversions, many 240/260Z owners have done it. My $.02

Personally I'd go with silver. It really depends how much you want that lip to "stick out". If you want it to really grab attention go black. I personally never really liked black wheels (here come the flames), I am biased towards silver wheels. To me nothing is sexier than a silver wheel with a polished/chrome lip. Plus the silver wheels with polished/chrome lip would compliment the window trim and the bumpers quite well. my .02

wouldn't the black blend better? I have the black B-pillars. I am not sure what I like better. The black pieces look kinda cheap, the chrome ones are little to fancy. A nice flat piece that is black is what would really look best.

Nice diffuser. BTW how big are those rims? Offset? I wonder if that guy with have a diffuser for the front as well?

Thats what they are all about man! I think a chill would run down your spine first though By the way I like what you did with your hood. Did I see widened rear fenders in you signature picture? If so right on! Looks like you got it blending in real nice with door, just the way I'd do it (that or the picture is just messing with me) For sure. Of course I bet a digital rendering will happen well before the actual headlight is made physically. My two largest problems are I have very little fabrication experience and I know diddly squat about how to but electronic devices together. Any electrical engineers in the house?

I like your headlights, but they lack the LED technology that I crave, and they lack that "it looks kinda stock" look. That and I don't really like the headlight covers you have, that design of headlight cover could be really modified to look a lot more slick and to not bulge out so much. The funny thing I bet, just becuase it usually is the case if I applied my LED/ Xenon projector headlight design to the 240Z bucket it would look even better in the 240Z bucket. Its like everything that looks good on a 280zx looks even better on a 240Z ironically

better than stock, that's for sure.

Alright here it is, the new design, I included an angle shot and a somewhat straight on shot. Like always please comment, hate it, like it, you know, comment.

I knoiw this is kinda point less to post with out pictures, but I have conceptualized another headlight design for the 280zx. Instead of the prior deisgn that included the staggered setup with a small projector up front and a larger LED prokector unit the new design still uses the LED's and the small projector, but it one unit. When I draw a larger rendition I'll post one up. Basically I enlarged the LED prjector unit and in the middle of it I put the XENON projector. So it an Xenon projector with LEDs around it. I think you'll find this new design better fits the 280zx, it still is aggresive, but it keeps more of the original headlight bucket design. Plus I find this new design looks better with the widebody kit I designed and it really does compliment the tailights I designed better. Till I get drawrings up stay on your toes, this design is IMO beautiful. You could really drool over these headlights.

At this link AVANTE widebody 300zx kit you can buy the Avante Kit. Not sure where you can buy the Cross Factory one though, sorry

And what site is that? Can you post the pics of the Z you are referencing?

You sparked some interest in me with this post, as I have never seen an early 300zx with a widebody. SO I set out to do some research for ya and the rest of the Z31 owners and here is what I dug up, I think you'll like the results Check this Link for one by Cross Factory Cross Factory 300zx Widebody And this one by Avante Avante 300zx Widebody and more just Body Kits (not Wide body, with the exception of the Cross Facotry and Avante one) check out this link where I found the two wide body kits. Various Z31 kits incuding two "Widebodies" I'm suprised, these kits actually pretty good, and I'm not much of a fan of the Z31 personally. The widebody kits are quite similar but the front and rear valances look different. Heh at least there are two options The S130 has one and it sucks (aka Kaminari square wheel well thing, gross )

2.25" sounds right to me. I think I remember the exhuast telling me that 2.25" was the diameter of pipe before making 3" exhuast, but that was in my old LOL 79 280zx 2+2

My intention is to have twin turboes in the future. Although I have a slightly different idea with the intercooling portion. I am thinking either bring the two hot pipes into one before the intercooler, or have an intercooler with two inlets and one outlet. Either way just use one Big A$$ intercooler for both turboes. Thanks again for the design input. About the ram air "nose job" here is a link showing a car that already has it. Nose Job 280zxt

Nice work Owen, you definitely inspired me with your vents. I like that air dam you got going there. Still could be bigger, that is where our designs differ. Out of curiosity is there a reason why your hood vents are raisedup and have that angled lip?